Making Today Count: A Practical Guide for Your Best Year Yet
Here’s a punch list to help make 2025 your best year yet.
I don’t know where you’re at today—whether you’re hitting a wall or still trying to figure out what 2024 taught you.
But I do know this: if you don’t feel it, map it, and own it, all the good intentions in the world won’t get you where you want to go as we wrap up another lap around the sun.
As Viktor Frankl once said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
That starts with taking small, intentional steps forward.
On the daily.
So, as you read this list, don’t just skim through it. Choose one or two ideas that resonate. Reflect on them. Journal about them. Think through how you can bring them into your daily rhythm.
Then take action. Repeat as needed. Keep it simple.
1. Choose a Word for the Year
I’ve been doing this for 12 years, and it’s changed everything. Having one word as your focus is more powerful than any goal-setting exercise. It acts as a filter and a mantra for every decision you make. Pick a word that inspires you, anchors you, and directs your energy. Try it for 2025 and see the difference it makes.
2. Start Your Day with a To-Do List
This simple practice has been a game-changer for me for over 18 years. Even with ADHD, it gives me clarity and instant accountability. A to-do list keeps you focused and helps you attack the day with purpose. Planning your day helps you live intentionally, not reactively.
3. End Your Day with Gratitude
Since 2016, I’ve been tracking three things I’m grateful for every day: something I learned, a meaningful conversation, and one small blessing. I share this daily with a trusted mentor, and it’s kept me grounded through life’s ups and downs. Find someone you trust and exchange gratitude texts with them. It works if you work it. “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” —Anonymous
4. Spend 20 Minutes in Solitude Daily
Find a quiet space—your backyard, a park, or even a corner of your home. Turn your phone to “Do Not Disturb,” breathe deeply, and let your mind quiet down. For me, it’s been a space to reconnect with my core self, beyond the noise and chaos of the day. As Blaise Pascal said, “All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Solitude isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline.
5. Focus on 3 Key Relationships
I believe in having at least one mentor, one peer, and one protégé. Outside of my relationship with God, these three relationships are the most impactful in my life. My mentors are ahead of me in life, challenging my thinking and guiding me through big decisions. My peers keep me sharp with both encouragement and accountability. My protégé gives me the joy of paying it forward, sharing what I’ve learned. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” —African Proverb. These relationships are a powerful source of growth and connection.
The Bottom Line
I could give you a dozen more ideas, but these five form the foundation of my personal and professional well-being.
Here’s the key: if you don’t feel it, you won’t map it, and you definitely won’t own it.
Pick one idea that resonates with you and start there. Let it shape your rhythm for today. Remember the words of James Clear: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” Build systems that serve you, and let them guide your days.
Your life will start to take on a new momentum, and before you know it, you’ll have accomplished more than you thought possible.
Don’t get overwhelmed by the rest of the year. Just focus on today.
Because how we spend our days is how we spend our lives.
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Steve Knox | Monterey, California
\\\ Thanks as always for reading. I’ll be sending out one more post this year, then hitting pause for a much needed sabbatical. I’m slipping off into nature and doing some internal work, writing, and exploring in God’s creation. Much love. Until next week. Be honest. Be you.